Corporate Awards: A Historical Overview of Trophies
In semiotics, the study of signs and their meanings, a trophy serves as a symbolic reminder of a specific achievement or victory. While often associated with sports winners, trophies can also be awarded in fields such as the arts, academia, and business. In certain contexts, like sports, they may take the form of medals.
The term "trophy" originates from the Greek word "Tropaion," which refers to a monument erected to commemorate military victories. These monuments displayed the weapons of defeated opponents as a testament to triumph. In ancient Greece and Egypt, trophies sometimes included human captives or body parts, as seen in the myth of Seth, who killed and dismembered his brother Osiris’s body, a possible early example of trophy-taking.
Trophies are also a common feature in hunting, where they symbolise successful hunts. Hunters often display animal heads to showcase their hunting skills, affixing their skulls to walls above their entrances as a reminder of their conquests.
In the early Olympic Games of ancient Greece, winners did not receive trophies; instead, they were awarded wreaths. However, these wreaths would quickly wilt, symbolising the fading nature of memory; and suggesting that a lasting solution needed to be created to preserve memory.
In individual sporting disciplines like boxing, wrestling, and kickboxing, individuals are honoured for their accomplishments in the form of belts. When a champion loses, they must surrender the belt to the new champion instead of keeping it. The same is true for trophies awarded in various sports leagues and tournaments, such as the English Premier League, Champions League, Africa Cup of Nations, and the World Cup across different sports, among others.
In the corporate world, outstanding individuals, teams, and organisations used to receive certificates and sponsor-provided hampers to recognise their achievements in various fields. Nowadays, however, trophies and plaques have become prominent items at award ceremonies.
While certificates serve as keepsakes of achievement, they might not stand out when displayed. Consequently, custom trophies and plaques have been introduced to complement them. These awards are often tailored to fit themes in academia, corporate settings, the arts and entertainment.
As the year comes to a close, many companies are beginning to plan their end-of-year celebrations. What are your ideas for recognising your staff's dedication throughout the year? If you're feeling uncertain, don’t worry! Reach out to us for stress-free suggestions that simplify the design and planning process.
At Image at Work, we create high-quality, custom-branded trophies, plaques, medals, and various award pieces. Our designs can be crafted to include names, award categories, logos, and any other text you’d like to feature. We don't just serve corporate clients; we create trophies for a wide range of industries, including sports, arts, and entertainment.
We embrace a liberal approach that allows for two-way communication, giving you the freedom to shape the desired outcome. When the process feels challenging, we're here to collaborate and share ideas from our extensive collection of design concepts.
In addition to our remarkably beautiful trophies, we also prioritise presentation, even though it's the final step in our process. Our packaging solutions are unmatched, offering personalised packaging that complements the elegance of the award inside, ensuring that the recipient feels truly honoured.
What are you waiting for? Contact us and let your staff experience the pride every hunter feels showcasing a trophy earned during an expedition. Elevate your year-end event with our beautifully crafted trophies and plaques!